Rio de Janeiro — Mars, Inc. has joined Nestlé, S.A. and Walmart International in calling for sustainability initiatives and responsible use of natural resources ahead of Rio +20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

The company will sign The Leadership Compact, initiated by The University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, in advance of the conference, which will be held June 20 to 22.

Mars Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Hobday, who will serve as a panelist during the event, says: “Our size and global reach mean that our commitment to sustainable development can have real and lasting impacts and indeed we have practical, mutually beneficial reasons for pursuing corporate sustainability.”